I've missed our Fitness forum threads and have been planning to start one for a long time.

Last year I had a couple of rounds of physical therapy for my upper back and stiff neck.

A few months ago, looking at our Ring cameras to check on my posture, I noticed that I walk funny. So I stood in front of a mirror and walked forward and could see it. Left leg & hip step forward in a straight line, right leg step forward and right hip flicks out. Argued with friend who said it was normal hip sway--no, this was not a normal M. Monroe sway, it's a hip flick--that's what it's called and it's not a good sign in an older women.

Also, balance problems and lower back pain, and occasional sciatica in the form of numbness, sent me back to PT. I learned that my right quads were much weaker than left, causing occasional knee issues--and a few other things. After three months of PT, I continue my exercises at home and continue to progress. I also do my hill walking when I can. I rarely see that hip flick.

Got all my covid boosters, flu shot, only thing left was shingles vaccination. I had the original vaccine, my MD encouraged me to get the newer shingles, but I put it off.

In short, 3 days after an annoying sore on my nose, I went to Urgent Care and saw a doctor. She said not shingles. I was relieved, but next morning I woke up and I knew she was wrong. Was able to get an appt with my dermatologist, luckily she had a canceled appt available the following day. No doubt now--she did a couple of swabs on my now oozing blisters and started me on the anti-viral medication.

That was 6 weeks ago. I won't go into details, but I had shingles on the middle trigeminal nerve, right side of my face. Painful, but not sick in bed, just no energy. No fatigue, I told my sister, she laughed and said, "What do you think low energy is? Fatigue!"

So here I am. I did send an evaluation about my UC doctor. Had I started the anti-viral two days earlier, I might not be having after effects.

Please get your shingles vaccination when you are eligible!

I'll do another post on my physical fitness efforts. Please join me if you want to keep working on fitness.